What a bummer that the Golden Globes ceremony was canceled this year! Sure, some of my favorites like "Ratatouille" and Javier Bardem still won Golden Globes. But I have to admit, I love to watch the glitz of the red carpet every year too. Making it even more disappointing was that I was supposed to help a friend, Kymberli Brady, work the green room during this year's awards show.
Kymberli and I bonded over a San Jose Chamber of Commerce trip two years ago as we lobbied various federal issues on Capitol Hill, including the repeal of the Wright Amendment. During the trip, she shared that her late father had been the director and co-executive producer of the Globes for 18 years. Kymberli has been in charge of producing THE ENVELOPES for the past 23 years. She didn't forget her promise to invite me to be a future "assistant"; this was going to be my year! (Fortunately, she's already given me a rain check for 2009.)
However, one awards ceremony I will definitely be attending will be for the Bay Area Travel Writers next week. I have to brag just a little - my husband Peter will be receiving an award for a travel piece he wrote about our visit to Dachau
during a trip we took to Germany with some Southwest friends.
Every Thanksgiving for the past 13 years, Southwest's Director of Sports Marketing, Promotions and Licensing Andy Allmann and Senior Promotions Specialist of Multicultural Marketing Laura Lopez invite Coworkers and friends to the German Christmas markets. For years, Peter and I had heard the hilarious stories and fun adventures from the growing number of "Germ Alums." And in 2006, we decided to see how many bratwursts we could possibly consume in our three-day, whirlwind trip while visiting Nuremberg, 
Frankfurt, Munich, Dachau, and Heidelberg. (My stomach is still recuperating.)
I'm not sure what my husband's acceptance speech will entail, but I know that a BIG THANKS goes to Andy and Laura for planning one of the most memorable trips we've ever experienced and for keeping our motley crew of 12 running like clockwork. 
And to Southwest, for hiring such special folks and for giving us fabulous flight bennies!
What about you? Did your Golden Globe favs win? Who are your picks for the Oscars? Write and let us know!